“Three years ago, I was equally liked by Republicans and Democrats,” Kimmel told CBS’ “Sunday Morning” of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” which has aired on ABC since 2003. “And then Republican numbers went way down, like 30 percent, or whatever. And you know, as a talk show host, that’s not ideal but I would do it again in a heartbeat.”…

Critics like conservative commentator Ben Shapiro have slammed Kimmel for parading as a “moral arbiter.”

“I’m not. I mean, I agree with him. I’m nobody’s moral arbiter,” Kimmel told CBS. “You don’t have to watch the show. You don’t have to listen to what I say.”

A defiant Kimmel added that he doesn’t say “I don’t mind” because he preferred “everyone with a television to watch the show.”

“But if they’re so turned off by my opinion on healthcare and gun violence then, I don’t know, I probably wouldn’t want to have a conversation with them anyway,” he continued. “Not good riddance, but riddance.”

Essentially, Kimmel is right – if you don’t like him, you don’t have to watch him. But I’m sure I’m not alone in missing the time when people could just watch TV and be entertained without one half of the audience being constantly demonised, ridiculed and preached at. When did everyone decide to be a politician, an opinion-maker and an activist? Probably when it became apparent that you can make enough money without being apolitical or bi-partisan, and that the owners/management will quite happily live with you having a smaller audience than you could otherwise have, because “quality” of the people you appeal to trumps the “quantity” of the people you appeal to. It’s sad nevertheless.

Just as it’s sad that someone in Kimmel’s position wouldn’t want to have a conversation – or presumably any interaction – with people who disagree with his politics. Not a skin off my nose; I don’t watch Kimmel – in fact I don’t give a shit about Kimmel – but I pity the close-mindedness.